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Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a chronic disease that develops when a person is unable to stop drinking, even when they attempt to. Despite the negative consequences resulting from their addiction, someone suffering from alcoholism cannot control their drinking and will experience emotional distress when not drinking.
An individual may be suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) if they experience two or more of the following:
While each person is unique and may experience alcohol withdrawal differently, common symptoms include:
Yes, a person can overdose from consuming too much alcohol. Also known as alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose leads to the body shutting down vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and temperature, resulting in death if not treated in time.
Signs of alcohol poisoning include:
If you believe someone may be experiencing an alcohol overdose, call 911 immediately.
Yes, there is strong evidence that inherited genes may predispose a person to AUD. However, this does not mean that a person whose parents were alcoholics will become alcoholics themselves. There is no one reason for the development of AUD.
While the exact cause of AUD is unknown, a person’s genes and environment play a role. Childhood trauma, high levels of stress, lack of positive coping mechanisms, and an unstable home environment can all contribute to AUD development.
Drinking in excess does not necessarily mean that a person has developed AUD. Even if they can be diagnosed with AUD, they may continue to function as normal up to a point. A “functioning alcoholic” may still fulfill their personal, social, and professional obligations. People close to them may not realize that there is a problem because of how well they seem to be dealing with it. Labeling someone as a “functioning alcoholic” could undermine the severity of their situation and enable them to deny that an issue exists.
When someone says they can quit “cold turkey,” it means that they could stop their habit right this instant and never do it again. When it comes to drinking, it may be difficult for someone to acknowledge how much they depend on alcohol. While it is possible to stop drinking cold turkey, the potential for serious harm in those with a severe addiction makes it ill-advised. When trying to overcome alcohol dependence, it is best to seek medical professionals’ support to ensure safety and the likelihood of long-term success.
Like with many chronic diseases, there is no simple cure for alcoholism. However, alcohol addiction can be managed with medications, therapy, a strong support circle, and aftercare programs.
While there are many different treatment options for alcohol addiction, they may include the following:
If a person engages in heavy drinking or binge drinking, they may be at a higher risk for:
Heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week for men, and eight drinks or more per week for women.
Binge drinking is consuming several alcoholic beverages in a short period, bringing the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or more. Binge drinking is typically five or more drinks for men, and four or more drinks for women, generally within 2 hours.
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